Theater icon Patti LuPone is preparing to sail with a group of devoted fans, but Turkish authorities had different plans in mind.
Officials in Turkey have blocked Atlantis Events’ upcoming gay cruise from docking at two scheduled ports, forcing the voyage to be rerouted just days before departure. LuPone, who is set to perform onboard, responded on Instagram on Thursday (July 3).
“I am shocked,” she wrote. “A ship — a magnificent ship — full of well-heeled gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board. I am furious, but I am sailing, as the ship will make other ports of call. I am ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this.”
Authorities in Aydın province canceled the planned stops in Kuşadası and Istanbul, saying the ship was chartered by groups whose presence was “incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values,” adding there was “absolutely no possibility” of docking for such an event.
Atlantis Events CEO Rich Campbell described the move as “pretty stunning,” saying, “The reasoning behind it is that it’s a gay group. It’s very concerning to me when a country decides they can pick and choose which tourists are allowed in and which are not.”
He added that the company is not a political organization, but simply travels for leisure, tourism, and cultural exchange while being respectful of every destination they visit.
Campbell also noted this is the first time in the company’s 36-year history that it has been told it cannot dock at a port based on the identity of its passengers.
The cruise, a 10-day Mediterranean voyage titled “Athens to Venice,” will sail aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, departing Athens on July 5 and returning July 15. Around 1,900 passengers are expected, mostly gay men, including roughly 1,100 Americans along with travelers from the UK, Canada, and Australia. Atlantis has since rerouted the journey to include stops in Cairo and the Greek island of Crete instead of the canceled Turkish ports, according to Deadline.
Reports also state that Istanbul authorities shut down the gay nightclub Tek Yön, which had operated for 18 years, after it posted a social media invitation welcoming Atlantis passengers. Officials claimed the venue was linked to organizing a boat party connected to the cruise, though the club denied this, saying it only intended to welcome visitors.
The situation unfolds against a broader backdrop of restrictions on LGBTQ rights in Turkey, where Istanbul has banned Pride marches since 2015. In late June, at least 50 people were detained during attempted small Pride gatherings in the city. Turkey currently ranks 47th out of 49 countries on ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, which assesses LGBTQ rights across Europe.
The Scarlet Lady is still scheduled to depart Athens on Sunday, July 5.
